Strawberry plant named &#39;Bob&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Bob’ (a.k.a., ‘105626’).

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

Fragaria×ananassa

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Bob’ (a.k.a. ‘105626’)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct early day-neutralstrawberry variety designated as ‘Bob’ (a.k.a. ‘105626’). This newvariety is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parentcultivar designated ‘1501’ and a male parent cultivar designated ‘1242’(both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the inventor and firstfruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields.

Following selection and during testing, the plant was originallydesignated ‘105626’ and subsequently named ‘Bob’. The new variety of‘Bob’ was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor atWatsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source havebeen tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent,grower fields in low and high elevation. The properties of this varietywere found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. Thecultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive early producingday-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Bob’. It is primarily adaptedto the climate and growing conditions of the central coast ofCalifornia. This region provides the necessary temperatures required forit to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit productionfrom April through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the neededhumidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintainfruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Bob’from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanicalmeasurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The produced fruit is attractive and of excellent quality. Producedfruit is light-red to medium-red at maturity, medium to large in size,very firm, conical to cylindrical in shape with a smooth surface lackingcreases. Seeds are slightly sunken below the surface.

‘Bob’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the centralcoast of California, characterized by foliage small to medium in sizeand light to medium green in color. Production generally begins in Apriland produces continually into October with 40% to 50% of its productionin the months of August through September.

‘Bob’ is different from strawberry variety ‘Ginza’, a.k.a. ‘102011’ andstrawberry variety ‘Zarina’, a.k.a. ‘105218’ disclosed in the co-pendingapplications. The table below shows differences among these varieties.

Variety ′Bob′ ′Ginza′ ′Zarina′ Fruit Color at Maturity light-red tomedium-red orange-red to medium-red pink-red to light-red Fruit Sizemedium to large uniformly medium in size medium to large Fruit Firmnessvery firm firm firm Fruit shape conical to cylindrical conical to oblateconical to cylindrical Surface Texture smooth, lacking creases smooth,lacking creases smooth, lacking creases Seed/Surface Position Seeds areslightly Seeds are well above the Seeds may be slightly sunken below thesurface sunken below the surface surface

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the‘Bob’ cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true aspossible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows the plant in its early stage of production bearing fruit.

FIG. 2 shows ripe and near-ripe fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral(ever-bearing) type cultivar designated as ‘Bob’, but may be considereda weak day-neutral in that it is somewhat similar to a short day. Whengrown in moderate, coastal climates “Bob’ loads up with larger fruit inthe year before the summer solstice, but with an extended harvest periodof fairly heavy volume into autumn season. ‘Bob's’ fruit is medium tolarge in size, that is relatively firm to very firm, mostly conical tocylindrical shape and some wedge shape with seeds slightly sunken belowthe surface.

Among the characteristics that distinguish the new variety from theother closely related varieties are the timing of fruiting, plant vigor,position of the inflorescences, leaf morphology, leaf size, leafdensity, leaf color, and disease and pest resistance.

‘Bob’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions,and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment.The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe thisplant as grown at California, when grown in the field, unless otherwisenoted. As stated above, the color determination is in accordance withThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plantsfor the botanical measurements in the present application are annualplants.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Bob’ is a fertile hybrid derived from a    cross.-   Common name: Garden strawberry-   General description:    -   -   Plant habit.—moderate, coastal climates.        -   Flowering, fruiting and production characteristics.—the            flowers are perfect, petals are pure white and rounded and            entire; and anthers and receptacle are bright yellow. The            calyx position is generally centered with 9 to 11 sepals            that are light to medium green in color.-   Foliar characteristics for ‘Bob’: Plant size is short to medium in    stature. Plant height averages 30 cm. Plant width averages 53 cm.    The shape of the base is obtuse and light to medium in density.    Average number of crowns per mature plant ranges from 3-4. Foliar    color is medium to dark green on the adaxial surface of the leaf.    The abaxial surface of the leaf is silver-green. No bract leaves    were observed in samples. The shape of the leaf is slightly concave    and flat Leaf length (10 cm in average) slightly exceeds the width    (8 cm in average). Each leaflet has three leaves and they average in    length approximating 30 mm (including the stem). The leaves are    moderately too highly glossy.-   Flower and fruit characteristics for ‘Bob’: The average number of    petals per flower is 5 with a range of 4-6 petals. Average petal    length is 7 mm with a range of 6-8 mm. The positioning of the    inflorescence is even with or slightly below foliage. The flowers    are mostly medium small to medium in size. The plant produces mostly    conical fruit with some long cones as well as long wedges and the    fruit color is medium opacity red and light gloss. The fruit size is    medium to large with an average length of 49 mm, with a range of    30-73 mm, and width of 43 mm, with a range of 29-58 mm. Seed    position on fruit is somewhat indented. The fruit's flavor is    consistently good or better than good throughout the season.-   Variety identification testing for ‘Bob’: No matches to existing    cultivars were found using SSR marker testing in a commercial    database search.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Bob’substantially as shown and described herein.